12/13 Lake Erie Moose Society bloggers group meeting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Barking Spider Tavern, Case Western Reserve Uni. Campus, Cleveland, free, RSVP on Facebook page. Rescheduled after this week’s storm. I have been going to this since the start of the year. Good way to get your feet wet about blogging. Important people in Cleveland social media in this group.

12/10 NEO IT Think Tank and CIO 3.0, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Corporate Plaza I, Independence, on LinkedIn groups and events sections. Topic: Your Future Concerning the Role of Information Technology: Five Major Shifts in IT Value, Ownership and Role of IT.

12/14 COSE Swap 25/Power Networking, 4:30 p.m., Bucci’s, Middleburg Heights, $10, limited seating, RSVP, www.cose.org. The last COSE speed networking event for this year. Only 25 spaces available to network with small business owners. Fills up quickly. I went more than one year ago and need to get back. Just act as a small business owner with a message and you are in the club.

12/15 Sprout Connections Eat Drink And Be Very Merry, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., Mercury Lounge, Cleveland, $10 advance/$15 door, It’s been some time I’ve listed an event from this group; networking with 10 percent of proceeds going to Shoes and Clothes For Kids, www.sproutconnections.com.

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12/16 Share-a-Christmas, 4 p.m.-9 p.m., Holiday Inn-West, Akron, $24.95 plus tax and gratuity, RSVP, on LinkedIn events, “Do you like to network and meet new contacts? Would you like to do this while enjoying holiday cheer? This event is for you.” If anyone goes to this, please let us know how it went.

12/18 Web Development Special Interest Group (SIG): If It’s For Free, It’s For Me!, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Notre Dame College, South Euclid, free, products to share, I have been to only one meeting so far, www.websigcleveland.org.

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12/20 Chipotle Networking-Cleveland area, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Chipotle, Independence, free, on LinkedIn events section. This is a different group than the one that usually meets at the Hudson store. You may find a mix of small business owners, financial services types and job hunters.

12/01 Communicators Holiday Party, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., City Club, Cleveland, $30,2010communicatorsparty.eventbrite.com. THE holiday party for communications industry. This year, Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ), Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Cleveland chapters are coming together for this annual event. The annual planner/host is Jerry Masek, who had a health scare before the event last year. I hope there is a better turn out this year than 2009.

12/01 COSE: Sales and Marketing: Powerful and Productive Networking, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Cleveland State University East Center, Solon, $20 nonmembers,www.cose.org. Learn the right way to network and attend events. Question – what makes this different from the free Coffee event Friday on networking?

12/02 Northeast Ohio Software Association (NEOSA) Networking Night, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Blue Canyon Restaurant and Tavern, Twinsburg, $10 nonmembers,www.cose.org. I went to one of these a long time ago. Good if you are in Tech. It’s right in my neighborhood this time; should go.

12/03 The Chipotle Networking Group: Final Carnitas and Connections 2010, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Chipotle, Hudson, free, on LinkedIn events. This is the Chipotle event I went to at the start of Summer. Not to be confused with the Cleveland-area one that recently surfaced. Networking with small business owners, job hunters and financial services types.

12/07 Beachwood Chamber of Commerce Networking After 5, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., Cleveland Clinic Family Health Center, Beachwood, $10 nonmembers, RSVP, Went to one long time ago, need to get back, www.beachwood.org.

12/10 NEO IT Think Tank and CIO 3.0, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Corporate Plaza I, Independence, on LinkedIn groups and events sections. Topic: Your Future Concerning the Role of Information Technology: Five Major Shifts in IT Value, Ownership and Role of IT.

12/14 COSE Swap 25/Power Networking, 4:30 p.m., Bucci’s, Middleburg Heights, $10, limited seating, RSVP, www.cose.org. The last COSE speed networking event for this year. Only 25 spaces available to network with small business owners. Fills up quickly. I went more than one year ago and need to get back. Just act as a small business owner with a message and you are in the club.

12/15 Sprout Connections Eat Drink And Be Very Merry, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., Mercury Lounge, Cleveland, $10 advance/$15 door, It’s been some time I’ve listed an event from this group; networking with 10 percent of proceeds going to Shoes and Clothes For Kids, www.sproutconnections.com.

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12/16 Share-a-Christmas, 4 p.m.-9 p.m., Holiday Inn-West, Akron, $24.95 plus tax and gratuity, RSVP, on LinkedIn events, “Do you like to network and meet new contacts? Would you like to do this while enjoying holiday cheer? This event is for you.” If anyone goes to this, please let us know how it went.

Happy Thanksgiving! With the holiday party season starting next week, it gave me an idea – holiday party networking tips.

So, I contacted some of this area’s networking experts and master networkers and ask them to provide their top tips. This is what I received back:

Toni J. Chanakas- A master networker (compared to myself), Independent Marketing and Nonprofit Consultant and volunteer at Seeds of Literacy:

“When you have collected all those business cards, what do you do with them now? Send holiday cards. It’s a nice way to remind the individual you met that you’re still looking, plus adding a festive touch. This works. A few people appreciated the gesture.”

Jeff Nischwitz – Founder & Chief Question Officer at Think Again and one of the Three Guys of Three Guys Presents, “Hosting unique events with a focus on interesting people, their passions and the power of relationships”:

“Thanks for your note. My top tip is similar to my non-holiday event tip, which is to plan ahead with different questions that will take the conversations to a deeper, more meaningful level. Networking is about beginning relationships, and relationships are based upon connections. Different and deeper questions allow the opportunity for these connections to take place. One of my favorite questions is ‘What do you like to do when you’re not working?’ Specific to a holiday event, I’d modify the question to ‘What do you like most about the holiday season?’ or even better, ‘What’s your favorite holiday memory?’ Creating a dialogue that’s more meaningful is one of the clear paths to relationships.”

Susie Sharp- Social Media and Online Content Diva at Social Zense Media and master networker:

“Better to have a ho-ho-ho time than to be the party ‘hoe. Ladies, dress conservatively, showing a minimum of cleavage, scent and makeup. You want folks focused on your face, not other ‘assets.’ Avoid the dreaded Christmas sweater and leave the giant bag at home. If you need holiday frou-frou, stick to some themed, non-glowing, non-blinking earrings. Remember to carry plenty of business cards, work the crowd and don’t monopolize conversations. Oh – and girls – DON’T travel in packs. Show your confidence by circulating solo. And whatever you do, stick to a one to two alcoholic-drink limit.”

12/01 Communicators Holiday Party, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., City Club, Cleveland, $30,2010communicatorsparty.eventbrite.com. THE holiday party for communications industry. This year, Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ), Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Cleveland chapters are coming together for this annual event. The annual planner/host is Jerry Masek, who had a health scare before the event last year. I hope there is a better turn out this year than 2009.

11/23 Greater Akron Business For Breakfast (GABB) Networking, 8 a.m.-9:15 a.m., Panera Bread, Fairlawn/Akron, free, on LinkedIn events. Topic: Strategy and Vision for the New Year with Rami Awadallah. Networking group for Akron-area business professionals. Some of my contacts are interested in this event.

12/01 COSE: Sales and Marketing: Powerful and Productive Networking, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Cleveland State University East Center, Solon, $20 nonmembers,www.cose.org. Learn the right way to network and attend events. Question – what makes this different from the free Coffee event Friday on networking?

12/02 Northeast Ohio Software Association (NEOSA) Networking Night, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Blue Canyon Restaurant and Tavern, Twinsburg, $10 nonmembers,www.cose.org. I went to one of these a long time ago. Good if you are in Tech. It’s right in my neighborhood this time; should go.

12/03 The Chipotle Networking Group: Final Carnitas and Connections 2010, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Chipotle, Hudson, free, on LinkedIn events. This is the Chipotle event I went to at the start of Summer. Not to be confused with the Cleveland-area one that recently surfaced. Networking with small business owners, job hunters and financial services types.

12/10 NEO IT Think Tank and CIO 3.0, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Corporate Plaza I, Independence, on LinkedIn groups and events sections. Topic: Your Future Concerning the Role of Information Technology: Five Major Shifts in IT Value, Ownership and Role of IT.

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12/14 COSE Swap 25/Power Networking, 4:30 p.m., Bucci’s, Middleburg Heights, $10, limited seating, RSVP, www.cose.org. The last COSE speed networking event for this year. Only 25 spaces available to network with small business owners. Fills up quickly. I went more than one year ago and need to get back. Just act as a small business owner with a message and you are in the club.

November 18 is the date when every Northeast Ohio organization, in the communications industry or not, is having a networking event.

Where did I go last week? On Tuesday, it was the Greater Digital Markers Meetup Group, once I understood my Akron directions and got to the location. Lately, I have been getting lost in the Akron area. Too Cleveland oriented.

Andy Halko, the owner of Insivia, was the guest speaker on Pay-Per-Click marketing and analytics. Great to see and hear him.

What is your best tip for networking at holiday parties?

As you peruse the list this week, you’ll note the start of the holiday party season. So, what is your best holiday party networking tip? Let us know by Nov. 24. I want to use them in the Nov. 29 post.

11/18 Cleveland State University Noon at Nance: B2B Marketing Lead Generation, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., RSVP, www.csuohio.edu/business/noon. Panel discussion. You don’t know who you will bump into at this year-long series.

11/18 Northeast Ohio WordPress Meetup Group, 7 p.m., Office Space Coworking, Cuyahoga Falls, RSVP, www.meetup.com/NEOWordpress. Since I use both the .com and self-hosted versions for different projects, I need to go to this.

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11/18 Sales and Marketing Executives (SME) of Cleveland After Hours, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Market, Rocky River, free, www.smecleveland.com. I went to one earlier this year. Need to go back.

11/20 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Cleveland Chapter Final Cut Pro II, 9:30 a.m., Lorain Community College, Elyria, free if attend first session/$20 nonmembers and did not attend first session, limited seating, RSVP Tom Moore, www.spjchapters.org/cleveland. Follow-up workshop; also open to new participants. I have attended events that interested me.

12/01 Communicators Holiday Party, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., City Club, Cleveland, $30, 2010communicatorsparty.eventbrite.com. THE holiday party for communications industry. This year, Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ), Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Cleveland chapters are coming together for this annual event. The annual planner/host is Jerry Masek, who had a health scare before the event last year. I hope there is a better turn out this year than 2009.

11/16 Rockside Road Area Young Professionals Social Networking Event, 4 p.m.-6 p.m., Mavis Winkle’s, Independence, RSVP 216-573-2330, www.walthall.com/news/news_and_events. “Have fun meeting people who can help you personally and professionally.” Organized by young professionals of Walthall Drake and Wallace LLP, CPA.

11/22 Twinsburg Chamber of Commerce Night at Blue Canyon, 5 p.m.-6p.m., Blue Canyon Restaurant and Tavern, Twinsburg, free, www.twinsburgchamber.com. Evening networking for small business owners. Attendance fluctuates; free munchies. I have been to this. Need to get back.

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11/23 Greater Akron Business For Breakfast (GABB) Networking, 8 a.m.-9:15 a.m., Panera Bread, Fairlawn/Akron, free, on LinkedIn events. Topic: Strategy and Vision for the New Year with Rami Awadallah. Networking group for Akron-area business professionals. Some of my contacts are interested in this event.

12/01 COSE: Sales and Marketing: Powerful and Productive Networking, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Cleveland State University East Center, Solon, $20 nonmembers, www.cose.org. Learn the right way to network and attend events. Question – what makes this different from the free Coffee event Friday on networking?

12/02 Northeast Ohio Software Association (NEOSA) Networking Night, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Blue Canyon Restaurant and Tavern, Twinsburg, $10 nonmembers, www.cose.org. I went to one of these a long time ago. Good if you are in Tech. It’s right in my neighborhood this time; should go.

12/03 The Chipotle Networking Group: Final Carnitas and Connections 2010, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Chipotle, Hudson, free, on LinkedIn events. This is the Chipotle event I went to at the start of Summer. Not to be confused with the Cleveland-area one that recently surfaced. Networking with small business owners, job hunters and financial services types.

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12/14 COSE Swap 25/Power Networking, 4:30 p.m., Bucci’s, Middleburg Heights, $10, limited seating, RSVP, www.cose.org. The last COSE speed networking event for this year. Only 25 spaces available to network with small business owners. Fills up quickly. I went more than one year ago and need to get back. Just act as a small business owner with a message and you are in the club.

Friday I went back to the main campus of Kent State University for its Entrepreneurship Extravaganza. It was different from the event I went to the previous week for JumpStart.

First, there were a lot of high school kids! I did not know students from area high schools are invited to this event. Second, there were not as many entrepreneur and innovator booths for me to visit and chat up my services. Third, the lunch portion, besides listing which tables the funders, entrepreneurs and business people were at, the planners should have listed their organizations/businesses as well.

I did make some contacts. But the best thing about the event was Chris Brown’s presentation on networking. Brown, who heads Marketing Directions, a marketing communications agency in Hudson, and a contact, gave some pointers I would like to pass along to you in a later post.

Where else have I been?

Oct. 28 Cleveland Digital Publishing Users Group (CDPUG) meeting. The second one I’ve been to since becoming a member to be editor of the group’s blog.

Oct. 26- JumpStart Entrepreneur Fair and Community Meeting at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center. I went working for projects (work) and made some contacts. Also met up with other contacts (they were looking for clients as well).

Oct. 21- Networking Power Hours in Valley View. This event is organized and hosted by one of my contacts, Liz L. It was a good event and a good mix of people in different professions. This was my first opportunity to check out this event. Go to the next one when it’s scheduled.

Don’t forget to tell us about your experiences at listed events and pass along the list via the various social media buttons at the end of the blog.

11/11 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Akron Chapter Accredited P.R. Professionals: A League of Their Own, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Martin University Center, University of Akron, Akron, $30 nonmembers RSVP, akronprsa.org. Panel discussion on what it takes to get the APR credential.

11/18 Northeast Ohio WordPress Meetup Group, 7 p.m., Office Space Coworking, Cuyahoga Falls, RSVP, www.meetup.com/NEOWordpress. Since I use both the .com and self-hosted versions for different projects, I need to go to this.

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11/18 Sales and Marketing Executives (SME) of Cleveland After Hours, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Market, Rocky River, free, www.smecleveland.com. I went to one earlier this year. Need to go back.

11/20 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Cleveland Chapter Final Cut Pro II, 9:30 a.m., Lorain Community College, Elyria, free if attend first session/$20 nonmembers and did not attend first session, limited seating, RSVP Tom Moore, www.spjchapters.org/cleveland. Follow-up workshop; also open to new participants. I have attended events that interested me.

11/09 Beachwood Chamber of Commerce Networking After 5, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., McCormick and Schmick’s, Beachwood Place, Beachwood, $10 nonmembers, RVSP,www.beachwood.org. I went to one in February; small business owners.

11/10 Hudson Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., Suncrest Gardens, RSVP 330-650-0621, www.explorehudson.com. Networking with small business owners. I have been to one earlier this year.

11/11 Akron APICS and WERC: Warehouse Management: Leading The Way to Performance and Profitability, John S. Knight Center, Akron, $50 unemployed members/$150 nonmembers, akronapics.org . For those who work in Supply Chain.

11/11 Northeast Ohio Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) Chapter Meeting, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Cuyahoga County Public Library Parma South, Parma, free, register, neoissa.org. Topics: A Day in the Life of a Secured User with Ryan Archer and Regulations and Standards For Business Resiliency with Ted Kozenko. Also on LinkedIn events.

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11/11 Northeast Ohio Usability Professionals Association (NEOUPA) World Usability Day Celebration, 1 p.m., Crowne Plaza, Independence, $40 nonmembers,neoupa.org. An entire afternoon dedicated to UX education and training. Presenters from various companies, including Land’s End, Medical Mutual of Ohio and NASA. Check out the schedule. I went to one presentation earlier this year.

11/15 Chipotle Networking, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Chipotle, Independence, free, on LinkedIn events. I believe different group than one I visited this summer at Hudson location. “People who want to fill their bellies with good food and their networks with good people.”

11/16 Rockside Road Area Young Professionals Social Networking Event, 4 p.m.-6 p.m., Mavis Winkle’s, Independence, RSVP 216-573-2330, www.walthall.com/news/news_and_events. “Have fun meeting people who can help you personally and professionally.” Organized by young professionals of Walthall Drake and Wallace LLP, CPA.

11/22 Twinsburg Chamber of Commerce Night at Blue Canyon, 5 p.m.-6p.m., Blue Canyon Restaurant and Tavern, Twinsburg, free, www.twinsburgchamber.com. Evening networking for small business owners. Attendance fluctuates; free munchies. I have been to this. Need to get back.

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11/23 Greater Akron Business For Breakfast (GABB) Networking, 8 a.m.-9:15 a.m., Panera Bread, Fairlawn/Akron, free, on LinkedIn events. Topic: Strategy and Vision for the New Year with Rami Awadallah. Networking group for Akron-area business professionals. Some of my contacts are interested in this event.

11/08 Society For Professional Journalists Cleveland Chapter, 7 p.m., Cuyahoga County Public Library, Fairview Park, free, www.spjchapters.org/cleveland. Guest speaker: Dan Coughlin, WJW-TV, promoting his book. I have been to events that interest me, such as Google 101 for Journalists.

11/11 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Akron Chapter Accredited P.R. Professionals: A League of Their Own, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Martin University Center, University of Akron, Akron, $30 nonmembers RSVP, akronprsa.org. Panel discussion on what it takes to get the APR credential.

11/09 Beachwood Chamber of Commerce Networking After 5, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., McCormick and Schmick’s, Beachwood Place, Beachwood, $10 nonmembers, RVSP,www.beachwood.org. I went to one in February; small business owners.

11/11 Northeast Ohio Usability Professionals Association (NEOUPA) World Usability Day Celebration, 1 p.m., Crowne Plaza, Independence, $40 nonmembers,neoupa.org. An entire afternoon dedicated to UX education and training. Presenters from various companies, including Land’s End, Medical Mutual of Ohio and NASA. Check out the schedule. I went to one presentation earlier this year.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This month one of my contacts has provided a guest post. We look forward to your comments and hope you visit her blog and website for more help on networking.

By Dumont Gerken Owen, Certified Career Management Coach

It’s not about the size of your network — it’s about the relationships you build. I’ve been networking for a long time, and over the years, I’ve made many contacts who fell off the map and many who I still carefully nurture as valued business and client acquaintances.

Time is money… and in your case, it’s the time and effort you put into your job search. So, do you want to spend this precious commodity building a huge network of contacts, or converting your most useful contacts into supporters with a vested interest in your success?

A short story: I recently had a call from a client with whom I had been working for about six months. She had succeeded in a number of careers during her life and was evaluating which direction she wanted to go now. We narrowed her focus to one industry in which she had previous experience. She was then able to turn to the network that she had kept active through the years since she’d left the field. It took about a month for her to land a great job in financial sales management. Better yet, it suited her life style.

Now in her case, she already had a well-developed past network of individuals in a position to help her. However, even if you don’t have a well-developed professional network now, the same techniques that worked for her can work for you. Just remember it is neither easy nor fast.

On average, it’s going to take about three to four months before your network starts to pay off.

Try this experiment…

Put yourself in your contact’s shoes. Whom would you most likely help further their job search?

The person you met at a professional meeting, followed up with a thank-you letter, but you never heard from again?

OR

The person who went beyond the thank-you letter: the one who sends an update on each referral you’ve offered and checks in from time to time, relating his or her job search progress or passes on an article of interest?

I’d help “B.” “B” is not just a contact , “B” is an acquaintance I have a vested interest in!

It takes time, effort, and determination to develop a “true” network: one composed of people committed to helping you further your job search.

What are some of the tactics for converting contacts to supporters?

Consider your first contact with the individual as an introduction. This is not the time to ask for referrals or even contacts. It’s an e-mail or call to set up a time to talk. It’s developing a new friendship; a true friendship not built overnight. The individual has to get to know you. It’s the same process developing professional contacts. They have to trust you before they’ll refer you. They have their own credibility to consider.

Once you’ve made contact, develop opportunities that deepen the relationship. The first is your thank-you note. Keep it professional, but personalize it by mentioning something specific you enjoyed about your talk. Make it stand out by sending it by e-mail within 24 hours and a second one “snail mail.” Employers can delete an e-mail in a second. They are more likely to open “snail mail,” and it’s a second chance to touch base.

The “pay forward” approach. Research as much as you can about your new contact. Send them an occasional article about a new breakthrough in the field or congratulate them on a personal accomplishment or company success. Once you’ve primed the pump, you’re ready to ask for referrals to new contacts.

Once your contact provides referrals, let them know how it worked out. If appropriate, copy the e-mail to the new contact. Remember you’re building your relationships with both. Let them know you appreciate their help.

Keep them updated on your progress during your job search.

Following these simple tips will help you convert your contacts to acquaintances invested in your success!

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About the author: Dumont Gerken Owen has extensive experience helping individuals actualize their career/life dreams in the higher education, nonprofit and for profit sectors. Gerken Owen is dedicated to personal authenticity and work-life balance. She has helped thousands of individuals by guiding them through the career transition process and job search campaigns. Gerken Owen designs individual programs around her client’s goals and budget.

She is a Certified Career Management Coach with a doctorate in Higher Education and a master’s degree in Counseling and Human Services, specializing in vocational counseling, from The Florida State University.

Visit her website and blog, careerwindowsonline.com, or e-mail her at dumontowen@careerwindowsonline.comfor a free hour consultation.

Last week, I did try to attend one event, the Greater Cleveland Digital Marketing Meetup Group. Got to the location, a winery near Blossom Music Center, but it is now closed on Tuesdays. So the meeting moved to a local pub in the Akron area.

Problem for me, I got lost trying to get there. I do not have a smart phone or GPS, yet. So I went home.

I have been enjoying the Mackenzie Creamery toasted pumpkin goat cheese log I bought to share with the group.

The group has a locked this time on its next meeting location — Akron again! I hope this place is on Google Maps or Mapquest.

10/20 NEO Society For Technical Communication (NEOSTC) Networking Lunch, noon, Geisen Haus-German Pub and Eatery, North Canton, free, RSVP,www.neostc.org. Usually one of my Go-To events. Since its North Canton, could pass on distance.

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10/21 Sales and Marketing Executives (SME) of Cleveland Business After Hours, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., The Ritz Carlton, Cleveland, free, www.smecleveland.com. I went to one earlier this year. After-work networking for marketing/sales professionals.

10/28 Cleveland Digital Publishing Users Group (CDPUG): The Top 10 Biggest Challenges For Designers Going From Print To Web with Lisa Gruber-Gebby, 6 p.m., New Horizons Computing Learning Center, Garfield Heights, $10 nonmembers, cdpug.org. I’m now a member and will helping with the group’s blog.

10/19 Entrepreneurs For Sustainability (E4S) Decade Of Doing: Putting Sustainability To Work!, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Great Lakes Brewing Co., Cleveland, free, RSVP, www.e4s.org. I went to one meeting earlier in the year.

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10/19 Greater Akron Business For Breakfast, 8 a.m.-9:15 p.m., Panera Bread, Fairlawn/Akron, free, on LinkedIn events. Meeting for business professionals to get together and discuss relevant topics to help businesses grow stronger and more successful.

10/20 Simplex-IT Lunchinar Big Business Disaster Recovery For Small Biz Price, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Hattie’s Cafe, Hudson, free, RSVP, BizBlog.Simplex-it.com. I went to some of these earlier this summer looking for freelance clients.

10/28 IT Martini 14 Tech or Treat, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Anatomy, Cleveland, $35, register, itmartinihour14.eventbrite.com, www.hyperproductive.com /blog, news and events. Networking event for IT professionals. I believe one was held during the summer. Portion of ticket going to Susan G. Komen For The Cure.

11/09 Beachwood Chamber of Commerce Networking After 5, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., McCormick and Schmick’s, Beachwood Place, Beachwood, $10 nonmembers, RVSP, www.beachwood.org. I went to one in February; small business owners.

Last week, I went to only one event, it was for professional development and I learned something!

The event was a Healthcare Journalism Workshop that taught about how to use certain government websites to research medical and health topics. It was an interactive presentation (I got to use my laptop) by a staffer from National Library of Medicine, part of National Institutes of Health.

Now I have a new resource to show perspective clients or employers in medical/health industry.

Two contacts also attended the workshop.

By the way, the event coordinator is trying to start a Cleveland chapter of the Association of Health Care Journalists. Any journalist involved in health/medical writing, should contact Eileen Beal at eojb@visn.net. I would love to include its future meetings on this list!

As always, please let us know your experiences at listed events. It’s a great way for us to communicate and tells me what events to list and what not to.

Industry Events

10/12 Greater Cleveland Digital Marketing Meetup Group, 7 p.m., Sarah’s Vineyard, Cuyahoga Falls, free, RSVP, www.meetup.com/Greater-Cleveland-Digital-Marketing. Went to my first meeting of this group earlier this month. Social networking this meeting for expanding group. Bring munchies because it is being held at a winery.

10/13 Independent Practitioners Group: Nontraditional Social Media Marketing with Howard Zoss, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Mavis Winkle’s, Independence, $10 nonmembers, RSVP, www.ipgcleveland.org. This a trade group for independent public relations professionals. I went to my first event earlier this month when a good business contact spoke.

10/14 Noon At Nance: Target Marketing, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University, free, register, http://www.csuohio.edu/business/noon/reg.html, www.csuohio.edu/business/noon. The panel discussion series on trends and best practices is back with business-to-business marketing as its main topic for the 2010-2011 school year. I went to some of these last year.

10/20 NEO Society For Technical Communication (NEOSTC) Networking Lunch, noon, Geisen Haus-German Pub and Eatery, North Canton, free, RSVP,www.neostc.org. Usually one of my Go-To events. Since its North Canton, could pass on distance.

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10/21 Cleveland Social Media Club Social Media and Family: Finding Balance, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Pickwick and Frolic, Cleveland, RSVP, clevelandsmc.ning.com. I usually go to these events.

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10/21 Sales and Marketing Executives (SME) of Cleveland Business After Hours, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., The Ritz Carlton, Cleveland, free, www.smecleveland.com. I went to one earlier this year. After-work networking for marketing/sales professionals.

10/28 Cleveland Digital Publishing Users Group (CDPUG): The Top 10 Biggest Challenges For Designers Going From Print To Web with Lisa Gruber-Gebby, 6 p.m., New Horizons Computing Learning Center, Garfield Heights, $10 nonmembers, cdpug.org. I’m now a member and will helping with the group’s blog.

10/12 COSE Swap 25/Power Networking, 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m., The Boneyard, Mayfield Heights, $10,RSVP, limited seating, www.cose.org. I went to this September 2009. Speed networking with small business owners; held quarterly. Promote yourself as a small business. Only 25 spots, so fills up quickly.

10/12 3 Guys Present: People You Should Meet, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., The Club At Hillbrook, Chagrin Falls, $40, 3guyspresent.com. Looks interesting and close by; I missed out on this group’s summer networking event.

10/13 B2B Clean Engineering Workshop, 1 p.m.-6 p.m., Lorain Community College, Elyria, www.greenenergyohio.org. Free part of event is Energy Savings and Financial Incentives For Home and Businesses. There is a wind energy workshop part that costs $35. Check site for more info and registration.

10/14 Medina County Young Professionals Assoc.: Show Your Team Spirit Social and Networking, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Panini’s, Brunswick, RSVP,www.medinacountyypa.com.

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10/14 Morning with Katherine Miracle, 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m., Hudson Country Club, Hudson, $10, www.miracleresources.com. On LinkedIn events. Claims it’s for professionals in leadership roles, such as business owners and CEOs. Latest It speaker making the event circuit.

10/15 Business Networking Social Happy Hour, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., Bodega, Cleveland Heights, on LinkedIn events. By Exclusive Events and Travel Planning and Cleveland First Fridays. It is what it is; bring business cards to pass along as you mingle.

10/18 Chipotle Networking/Cleveland, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Chipotle, Independence, free, LinkedIn events. I think this a separate group from the Chipotle networking group I visited in Hudson, but same premise.

10/20 Simplex-IT Lunchinar Big Business Disaster Recovery For Small Biz Price, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Hattie’s Cafe, Hudson, free, RSVP, BizBlog.Simplex-it.com. I went to some of these earlier this summer looking for freelance clients.

10/28 IT Martini 14 Tech or Treat, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Anatomy, Cleveland, $35, register, itmartinihour14.eventbrite.com, www.hyperproductive.com /blog, news and events. Networking event for IT professionals. I believe one was held during the summer. Portion of ticket going to Susan G. Komen For The Cure.